Changing Expectations for Agriculture and Forestry

BATH- A Bath resident recently went to the city’s Public Works Department to discuss a 100’ foot long culvert that crosses his property. The pipe drains water off of a quarter mile of High Street and the rocky ledges uphill. The landowner feared that as severe storms and heavy rainfall become more frequent, the culvert will not be big enough to handle the storm water runoff, and his land could flood.

This threat to personal property and public infrastructure was made evident at a September presentation offered by the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT). Their 2011 environmental lecture series titled Changing Expectations: our climate, our landscape our needs was highlighting infrastructure challenges due to the increase in storm intensity and projected sea level rise.

The second lecture of the three part series is on October 27th at 7:00pm on the Changing Expectations for Agriculture and Forestry.  Bath city arborist, Tom Hoerth will show how the City of Bath is planning for the impacts of a changing climate. Bath was one of only 6 communities in the U.S. selected to start the first class at Climate Solutions University, a unique web-based forest and water climate adaptation training program.  The City of Bath is also part of the only urban forestry project funded in 2011 by the USDA. The project will provide guidance on how Bath could use its urban forests to reduce its vulnerability to climate change, including projected extreme weather events.

Andy Whitman, Director of Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences’ Natural Capital Initiative will discuss how urban and community forests can help towns adapt to increasing temperatures and rainfall. The Kennebec Estuary has ample forestland to assist in this adaptation if it is managed properly.

Stephanie Gilbert with the Maine Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Resources will talk about the important role that agricultural lands play in achieving goals for regional sustainability and health.

All talks take place at the Maine Maritime Museum’s Long Reach Hall in Bath and are open to the public. A $5 donation is suggested at the door and refreshments are served. For more information please visit www.kennebecestaury.org. The final lecture is on November 16 – Planning for a Changing Landscape.

This series is generously sponsored by Bath Savings Trust Company and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.

Useful link:

Climate Literacy Booklet: A Guide for Individuals and Communities